Study ethics from a classic ethics text, written by one of contemporary philosophy's most skilled teachers, Louis P. Pojman, now revised by best-selling author and editor of the INTERNET ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHILOSOPHY, James Fieser. ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG, Seventh Edition, offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the fundamental objectives and

Overview

Study ethics from a classic ethics text, written by one of contemporary philosophy's most skilled teachers, Louis P. Pojman, now revised by best-selling author and editor of the INTERNET ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHILOSOPHY, James Fieser. ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG, Seventh Edition, offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the fundamental objectives and outlooks of ethical theory. Written with Pojman's hallmark engaging, conversational manner with strong supporting pedagogy, this book challenges students to develop their own moral theories and to reason through ethical problems for themselves. The text even-handedly raises critical questions and fosters independent thinking within a rigorous presentation that draws numerous examples from both classical and contemporary sources. This edition maintains the text's clarity and strengths with its non-dogmatic style and generous presentation of various positions. This revision includes more feminist and multicultural ethical perspectives.

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Table of Contents

Preface. 1. WHAT IS ETHICS? Ethics and its subdivisions. Morality as compared with other normative subjects. Traits of moral principles. Domains of ethical assessment. Conclusion. 2. ETHICAL RELATIVISM. Subjective ethical relativism. Conventional ethical relativism. Criticisms of conventional ethical relativism. Conclusion. 3. MORAL OBJECTIVISM. Aquinas' objectivism and absolutism. Moderate objectivism. Ethical situationalism. Conclusion. 4. VALUE AND THE QUEST FOR THE GOOD. Intrinsic and instrumental value. The value of pleasure. Are values objective or subjective? The relation of value to morality. The good life. 5. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY AND THE MOTIVE TO BE MORAL. Why does society need moral rules? Why should I be moral? Morality, self-interest and game theory. The motive to always be moral. Conclusion. 6. EGOISM, SELF-INTEREST, AND ALTRUISM. Psychological egoism. Ethical egoism. Arguments against ethical egoism. Evolution and altruism. Conclusion. 7. UTILITARIANISM Classic utilitarianism. Act and rule-utilitarianism. Criticism of utilitarianism. Criticism of the ends justifying immoral means. Conclusion. 8. KANT AND DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES. Kant's influences. The categorical imperative. Counterexamples to the principle of the law of nature. Other formulations of the categorical imperative. The problem of exceptionless rules. The problem of posterity. Conclusion: a reconciliation project. 9. VIRTUE THEORY. The nature of virtue ethics. Criticisms of action-based ethics. Connections between virtue-based and action-based ethics. Feminism and the ethics of care. Conclusion. 10. GENDER AND ETHICS. Classic Views. Female Care Ethics. Four Options regarding Gender and Ethics. Conclusion. 11. RELIGION AND ETHICS. Does morality depend on religion? Is religion irrelevant or even contrary to morality? Does religion enhance the moral life? Conclusion. 12. THE FACT-VALUE PROBLEM. Hume and Moore: the problem classically stated. Ayer and emotivism. Hare and prescriptivism. Naturalism and the fact-value problem. Conclusion. 13. MORAL REALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM. Mackie's moral skepticism. Harman's moral nihilism. A defense of moral realism. Conclusion. Appendix: How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper. Glossary. Index.